Ok, we've got a lot of comics this week, so I split them into three different editions!
Batman #708 ("Judgment on Gotham:" Part 1): This issue throws a lot at the reader at once, resulting in a dizzying story that has a lot of potential. When Dick suffers from some sort of spell after getting hit in the chest by a mugger, I assumed it was the result of the poisonous gas to which he was exposed in "Detective Comics" #872. However, instead, it's the result of a "wound" inflicted by Azrael. (I subscribe to eight Batman comics and I don't remember him getting wounded by Azrael. I'm assuming it happened in "Azrael," which annoys me not only because we don't get an editor's note telling us when/where it happened but also because apparently reading eight Batman books isn't enough.) I'm intrigued by Dick's "Prodigy" dream, since the Prodigy looks like it could be Jason Todd (assuming Hine keeps his reversion to red hair), who's been quiet for a while. The rest of the issue sets up the cross-over issues in "Red Robin" and "Gotham City Sirens" (another book I'm going to have to get just to stay with the cross-over). I've never been a fan of Azrael stories, so I can't say I'm particularly enthused. But, the appearance of Ra's al Ghul at the end gives me hope that the storyline will pick up a little. At the very least, Guillem March's art is really spectacular in this issue and I can't wait to see what he does next.
Batman and Robin #20-#21: These issues are great. (I seem to have neglected to review the first one. Oops.) This arc is really a return to form for the book, a welcome relief after we all had to suffer through the previous arc. Tomasi builds the story well, revealing some clues in the second issue but also raising new questions at the same time. The best part, though, was the opening sequence, seeing the family all together. Tomasi really "gets" everyone here: Dick and Tim's engaging in affectionate brotherly banter, Damian pretending to want to be somewhere else but still being there, Alfred getting to fuss over all them, Bruce actually relaxing. The best part of "Batman and Robin" had been the Dick/Damian relationship, and Cornell (and a lot of the writers of the other Bat-books) ignored that in the last arc. So, I take off my hat to Tomasi for returning to what makes this book special and taking the time to develop the characters a bit before diving into the mystery. Speaking of the mystery, I really didn't see coming the connection between the victims of the White Knight and the inmates of Arkham Asylum. Tomasi shows real skill in making that revelation not only feel organic (and not a stunt, which it could have easily felt like) but also making it call into question who the White Knight is and what his motivations are. I can't wait to see where this story goes. The art is also great. The scenes of mostly white near the end of the second issue really leapt off the pages and underscored both the creepiness of the White Knight and also the mystery behind his identity.
Batman Beyond #1-#3: I just got a chance to read these issues and they're a great start to the series. Beechen gives a lot of hints of where future storylines could go while giving us an engaging and fun read. Batman v. the Justice League? It's a pretty cool way to start a series. As a guy who can get obsessed with continuity, I found myself wondering how closely the series will tie to the animated series and the various comic series. I haven't seen all the animated series or read any of the other comics, so I was wondering if I should be buying up back issues or making my way through the TV show. So, I was glad to see Chris Conroy himself address the issue in the letters column, suggesting that the book is going to combine the best of both the TV and comic series. As such, I'm going to try not to be OCD about it and just enjoy how the series develops. I know there are a lot of Bat-books out there now, but, if you've got an extra $3, I'd say this one is actually one of the ones worth your money.
Red Robin #21: This issue, in theory, continues from "Teen Titans" #92, but I was left feeling like I had missed an issue somewhere between the two. At the end of "Teen Titans" #92, Red Robin had re-joined the team and it appeared they were going to go after the Calculator for ultimate control over the Unternet. However, in "Red Robin" #21, we only see Tim, and he's fighting a group of four super-villains called "the Madmen," who are the living embodiment of the Unternet. Um, OK. Once you get over the sudden shifting of gears, though, the issue is fine. It's just weird that Nicieza totally abandoned the Teen Titans and the Calculator. At any rate, I'm glad we've put the Unternet to rest, because it was definitely getting old. We've spent a lot of time on it, and I'm not really sure it was worth it. Part of the answer to that question will be the extent to which anything that's happened in the last few issues will have repercussions in future issues. The next issue is yet another cross-over -- this time with "Batman" and "Gotham City Sirens" -- so it'll probably be a while before we have an answer. I'm looking forward to us getting back to basics and focusing more on Tim, particularly as he handles his transition to being a superhero in his own right and not just someone's sidekick.
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